Vista, thy name is bloat! The latest Windows packs a lot of code -- more than any version of Windows ever -- and some of it is just plain unnecessary. All of that excess code has a way of slowing down an operating system. You can regain some PC performance by removing unneeded features.InfoWorld have identified a dozen Vista features that you can turn off right now. Some are shiny baubles that slow down graphics performance, while others are optional utilities that hog memory when they shouldn't. A few can actually be quite useful, though they play a major role in bogging down your PC.
View: The full story @ InfoWorld
How to Speed Up Vista!
Turn off everything in Vista.
I've dropped V64 onto my pc, it seems okay, better than 32 bit
Makes sense, the OS should be minimal and out of the way as much as possible. Only install and enable what you need. This makes things safer and faster.
Format (Vista Drive) ?
If my CPU were 64 bit or had more RAM i might use Vista. As it is though, it does try to reinvent the whell too much. I don't like the new dialog windows and the Windows "Find" is too slow. I turned off Indexing tho. And I do find it thrashes the HDD. Other than that its a great OS!
By the time you're done tweaking Vista, Windows 7 will be out. I'm just going to continue using XP until then and avoid all of this nonsense. Vista has nothing of value other than DX10 and that is not yet a requirement. By the time it is, Windows 7 will be out--along with DX11.
Vista is EOL.
By the time you're done tweaking Vista, Windows 7 will be out. I'm just going to continue using XP until then and avoid all of this nonsense. Vista has nothing of value other than DX10 and that is not yet a requirement. By the time it is, Windows 7 will be out--along with DX11.
Vista is EOL.
No one cares.
1) Time Machine... well it OBVIOUSLY slows down the system doing that stuff right? disable it...
2) Quartz... comon we can disable WDDM in vista and say aero sucks right? why not disable OSX's accellerated graphics subsystem too? they basically are the same thing in the end... 2D acceleration in a 3D space
3) Sound... who needs it! it wastes processing time!
4) Bouncing loading icons on the dock... what do they offer me? nothing...
(the past list was sarcasim if you didn't get it
someone needs to release a new OS quickly so these morons can complain about that instead.
It's just not accurate:
"Remote Assistance" - really got this bit wrong. That's in Windows XP too plus it's actually in ALL versions of Windows Vista. So this point is pretty flawed from the start.
Telling people to turn off UAC is just irresponsible.
Vista indexes things and all sorts of stuff after a fresh install so dont bash it until you give it up.
Also uac only annoys you on installs of things and anything that would need admin privilages. So once you setup your pc it shouldnt bug you on playing games and things like that.
These tips are really the only two that you need for vista.
But if you have a reasonably good dedicated graphics card, it's better to run Aero (but maybe without transparency) rather than revert to Vista Basic or Windows Classic view. That's because when Aero is running, the graphics processing for it is handled by your GPU on the video card, otherwise, Windows handles it like with XP and 2000, from the CPU. You can keep Aero and just disable some of the other graphic features (shadows under menus, transparency, for example).
Tablet PC Stuff: Yeah, but if you get rid of the 'Tablet PC Stuff' you will also get rid of the Screen Snipping Tool, which is a slick little puppy!
Well, I'm running Server 2008 Standard, and fortunately a lot of the features in Vista can be enabled in Server, but aren't on by default. Still, I've found that Server 08 (x64) is a bit snappier than Vista Business x64. Plus the new Snipping Tool you can download has a few more features than the stock one that comes with Vista.
Here's one question: why can't he put the entire article on one page? Are they really that desperate for advertising dollars that they have to turn a one page article into 4 just to have that many more ads?
if you have a widescreen monitor and want the at hand info the sidebar gives you there's no resource reasont o tturn it off. it takes memory and that's it, and even that is almost exclusively virtual. and it releases all it's resources if you need them elsewhere in a full screen app.
and his second suggestio is to turn off Aero... to speed up the OS... yeah great idea. except areo makes the whole windows interface a lot faster and smoother than non accelerated so kinda backfired there...
yeah sure remote desktop/assistance may be a semi useless service, but seriusly. you're not gong to notice ANY performance increase by turning it off..
Ad ultimate extras ? whate the hell, nothing to turn off unless you actually donwload them. and even then the only one taking any resources is dreamscape. and I'm fairly certain those of us who choose to have that on, knows it takes resources and are willing to use them.
gets more fun and ridiculous for every page. he doesn't even know the difference between readyboost and superfetch. and even then he apparently has an exclusive to him opinion that readyboost will slow your system down not icnrease boot speed... Maybe he should't have modified the system to accept his low read/write speed USB Drive....
Vista bashing is getting ridiculous lately, it was bad before, but nowadays they're hiding behind supposedly helpfull articles without a clue what they're talkign about and causing more damage than good.
Ultimately - Infoworld accomplished exactly what they wanted - more hits to their web site... no matter what kind of crap they write.
1. Sidebar
You can have your own stuff in the sidebar (I certainly don't have the slideshow thingy as I have no need of it). Doesn't slow down boot time as it loads after the desktop has been initialised, meaning you can open your programs just the same as if it isn't on. I've got a nice wide monitor so it doesn't take up valuable screen space for me either.
2. Aero
If you've got an underpowered or overloaded PC then potentially there is an improvement. In any case you've still got a problem just because your PC is rubbish for running Vista.
3. Assorted Interface Beautification
How about selecting the "Let Windows choose what is best for my computer" for these settings instead of turning everything on and then complaining? Windows has had this since 2000 (if not before).
4. Remote Assistance
I turn this off as a matter of course as I don't want it in all my installations of Windows. I've yet to come across a problem that I can't sort out on the console. Some fixes require Recovery Console which won't be available to a remote connection. YMMV but it doesn't hog resources in any case.
5 / 6. Internet Printing Client, Windows Meeting Space
Won't make much (if any) difference if turned off. I don't use them either but haven't turned them off as I don't care about a dormant service.
7. Windows Ultimate Extras
If your PC is rubbish you probably wouldn't have got Ultimate in the first place so this doesn't apply. If your PC is capable then the only thing that might cause issues is DreamScape. Doesn't on my bargain basement Core 2 Duo 6300 even with a 140MB Dream running.
8. Tablet PC Stuff
See 5 / 6.
9. ReadyBoost
Again, this is a boon for underspecced PCs (<2GB RAM). Mine isn't, so it doesn't apply in the slightest. If your USB stick is rubbish then that's your fault for buying a cheap one and expecting lightning performance from it.
10. Search Indexing
If you ever search you'll want this and once it has gone through the preliminary indexing it takes negligable resources, same as Google Desktop (if not less).
11. Files
If you aren't accessing files over a network then this sits there doing nothing and taking up a piddly amount of memory.
12. Windows Error Reporting Service
I do turn this off (but keep the notification on) as the only time it is likely to pop up is if I've forcibly killed a hung program. In those cases, an error report probably won't reveal anything of use as hanging can happen for all kinds of reasons, like surges, and aren't reproducible.
13 (yes, there were 13 of them). Disable UAC
Dumbass. It's there for a reason. Disabling it makes you as vulnerable as a XP box, especially when surfing. Use TweakUAC if you're constantly bugged (most users won't be).
Read the large debate thread in the Vista support section. The UI's not the only part of UAC.
It is still worthless if the user ignores it.
Did you know that in the game Doom UAC is the corporation that opens the gates to hell?
It is still worthless if the user ignores it.
Did you know that in the game Doom UAC is the corporation that opens the gates to hell?
Yes, and there was a character named Starbuck on Battlestar Galactica. Should I assume he is connected with the coffee chain?
It is still worthless if the user ignores it.
Blatantly incorrect.
UAC will contain a lot of exploits, hijacked apps, etc. all without prompting you once.
Yeah, it's great. Turn off Error Reporting so Microsoft can't tell when something is crashing Vista and issue a fix or advice for it.
Yeah, it's great. Turn off Error Reporting so Microsoft can't tell when something is crashing Vista and issue a fix or advice for it.
So your saying Vista sucks then cause you need to run error reporting. Also again calm down.
Yeah, it's great. Turn off Error Reporting so Microsoft can't tell when something is crashing Vista and issue a fix or advice for it.
So
youryou're saying Vista sucks then cause you need to run error reporting.? Also again calm down.No, GreyWolf never said Vista sucks because you need to run error reporting. I report all my errors in XP. Why not do it for Vista? If there's common errors between computers, most likely a patch will be issued to correct the problem. Why not tell MS if something is wrong?
Yeah, it's great. Turn off Error Reporting so Microsoft can't tell when something is crashing Vista and issue a fix or advice for it.
So
youryou're saying Vista sucks then cause you need to run error reporting.? Also again calm down.[/quote]No, GreyWolf never said Vista sucks because you need to run error reporting. I report all my errors in XP. Why not do it for Vista? If there's common errors between computers, most likely a patch will be issued to correct the problem. Why not tell MS if something is wrong?[/quote]
No, GreyWolf never said Vista sucks because you need to run error reporting. I report all my errors in XP. Why not do it for Vista? If there are common error's between computers, most likely a patch will be issued to correct the problem. Why not tell MS if something is wrong? [/quote]
"What you talkin bout willis"
Vista is great, Seven is bloat, slow, etc...
How can anyone tell people to turn essential features off? Agree that Remote Assistance and Tablet PC components won't serve a large user base, but UAC, Error Reporting, Indexing? It is just lame...
With a modest "modern" computer, all Vista features run very well and don't slow down.
I'm writing this in two year old laptop with 1gb ram and Core Duo 1.66 with Vista Ultimate. All features are enabled (even aero), except UAC, Tablet PC and Remote Assistance.
-1: Turn off search indexing?? That's one of Vista's best features!
And your point being....?
Windows XP ~40million SLOC (Source Lines Of Code)
Windows Vista ~50million SLOC
Mac OS X 10.4 ~86million SLOC
Debian 4.0 ~283million SLOC
but wait... look no further than Windows NT 3.1 which is only 4-5million SLOC !!!
Lines of code does not equal "bloat" ... in fact more lines of code in an entire program usually makes the program more efficient and quicker, it also usually mean more potential security flaws as the system becomes more complex and also just the fact their is more code capable of containing errors.
Last edited by plastikaa on 06 Sep 2008 - 00:26
Aero
Sidebar with 6 gadgets
Rainlendar
Object Dock Plus
AND Dreamscene
All in all, there's NO slowdown on my PC at all. I could open up iTunes and have 10 tabs in Firefox, and there's no slowdown. What are these cry babies talking about?
1. Sidebar
I love sidebar and i'm using it.
2. Aero
I love Aero, it's actually the first Windows theme i'm using since 95 introduced "classic".
3. Assorted Interface Beautification Options
I have actually turned off all the "fade or slide..." thingies. i just don't like them.
4. Remote Assistance
Ok, point taken, turning off now.
5. Internet Printing Client
Well, i have already unchecked all the boxes in components window. Except for chess, of course.
6. Windows Meeting Space
Awful and unchecked. Then again, if you don't use it, it's not running, so where's the point?
7. Windows Ultimate Extras
All checked to ignore when updating.
8. Tablet PC Stuff
See 5.
9. ReadyBoost
Ok, might as well turn it off since it's clearly a service i will never be using.
10. Search Indexing
Plain stupid. The most awesome feature of Vista.
RESUME : turning off which of them exactly can improve performance?
Ok, might as well turn it off since it's clearly a service i will never be using.
Incorrect.
By disabling the ReadyBoost service, you're going to hurt startup performance, as ReadyBoot will not be running.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc162480.aspx
"and Microsoft-centric RSS news feed that dock in the Windows Sidebar". If you know how to subscribe to RSS feeds you wouldn't write this bs. Any newsfeed you subscribe to will show up here, not just MS'. go do your homework before you put this crap together
Why do i get the sense that the people writing these "guide's", if you can call them that, are running
vista on a 1,5ghz computer running 1gb ram and a integrated gpu?
please, everything that makes vista a huge advantage over xp, let's just turn it of :p
Is there ANY editorial direction/review on this site? Ever?!
you mean, "downgrade" from Vista to XP. I don't have to do such a thing. The Dell Inspiron laptop with pre-installed Vista Home Basic edition with some (NOT all) Vista features turned off works just fine. The other features that Vista article mentioned I can leave 'em on.
I will say that Vista's "ReadyBoost" feature is overrated and had no performance improvement on the Dell laptop so I disabled it. Vista loaded a little faster on bootup now.
excalpius, the person who originally wrote that Vista article (posted at the Infoworld site) used to write some crazy & stupid articles for the ComputerUser magazine several years ago.
Dumb articles - how many of these have been produced and placed on the front page of Neowin?!?!
Just so you guys are fully aware of what you're doing:
http://askville.amazon.com/ready-boot-Wind...ponseId=7361208
Source: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc162480.aspx
To all those Vista haters and stupid idiots who keep writing useless articles to cover up the fact they have a crap pc or are just fanboys of linux or mac. I give you the wise words of STFU.
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